ASHENEWS reports that a massive fire outbreak has gutted the Kasuwar Kara Grinding Market in Sokoto metropolis, destroying properties estimated at over ₦250 million.
A house and about 50 shops were razed by the fire which started around 11:30pm on Friday night.
The fire, which was said to have started around 11:30 pm, took a couple of hours before it was put off by firefighters.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of the Grinding Marketers Association, Yakubu Bello confirmed the extent of the damage.
Bello said that the association was yet to confirm the cause of the fire as there was no electricity in the area when the fire started.
He further explained that nobody escaped with anything in his shop, noting that the Special Adviser to the governor on market matters had visited the vicinity and sympathised with them.
This incident has left many traders devastated as a significant number of them lost their entire trading stock in the fire.
One of such victims is Badamasi Aliyu, who told our correspondent that he lost everything in the fire.
According to Aliyu, he was at home when he was called and informed about the incident.
He rushed to the incident of the fire to meet ashes from more than 20 bags of grains burnt in the inferno.
Another victim of the fire, Mujitaba Mainasara, said he lost two shops, each with two big grinding machines and bags of grains worth ₦6 million.
This online platform further reports that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Matters has visited the scene to sympathize with the victims and assess the extent of the damage.
Traders have also called on the state government and well-meaning individuals to assist them in recovering from the tragedy.
